Abstract

The Murdoch University Internship Program is one in which students obtain valuable work experience in various actions such as engineering project management and engineering practice. The City of Rockingham has had a long relationship with the Murdoch University Internship Program and has hosted an intern every year since 2004.

The 2010/2011 internship reported herein was one in which the main aims were to be the assessment of the small wind turbine generator to be installed at the Lark Hill Sportsplex at Port Kennedy. The installation was supposed to be performed through August of 2010, which would have coincided well with the beginning of the Semester 2 internship period. Due to various delays outside the control of the intern, the City and the University, the turbine was not installed until March of 2011 and as of the 17th of June 2011 was still not approved for grid connection.

In hindsight the assessments of the Lark Hill turbine should have been abandoned sooner however, the installation contractor appeared to evade timeline related queries and information was supplied in small measures. This resulted in the gradual extension of timelines for the assessments rather than the altering of project aims to achieve different outcomes.

The assessments were instead performed on the A1 turbine that was undergoing testing by NSWTC. Using data collected by the staff the assessments were performed following the same international standards. The results include a measured power curve in accordance with IEC 61400-12, a duration test (IEC 61400-2) and an apparent rated sound power level as specified by IEC 61400-11.

Other outcomes achieved were the successful tendering of a Wind Atlas for the City; technical input into the draft renewable energy policy and; updated power output, financial outcomes and GHG reduction estimates for the Lark Hill wind turbine.